I've been both sick and busy these last few weeks. I haven't had too much time to read up on all the details of the government shutdown and the debt ceiling. I only listened to bits and pieces of President Obama's speech to the nation last night. So I may not be the most informed person out there in regards to what is going on in Washington right now.
But I do know one thing: my government has really disappointed me. In spite of Barack Obama's shortcomings, he has be re-elected for a second term. The ongoing tantrums of the Tea Partiers is really a fruitless exercise. Not only that, but there is just blatant disregard of the best interests of the American people. It is almost to the point where I feel they are working against us. But who needs me to say this or point this out? They do fine all by themselves! Just see some of the quotes below:
"I need my paycheck. That's the bottom line. I understand that there may be some other members who are deferring their paychecks, and I think that's admirable. I'm not in that position." - Renee Ellmers - North Carolina (R). Voted for the shutdown by the way.
"We're not going to be disrespected. We have to get something out of this. And I don't know what that even is." - Rep. Marlin Stutzman - Indiana (R)
“I thought the fight would be over the debt ceiling. But you know, working with my members, they decided, well, let’s do it now. And the fact is, this fight was going to come, one way or the other.” - John Boehner - Ohio (R). Speaker of the House of Representatives.
"We're very excited. It's exactly what we wanted, and we got it." - Michele Bachmann - Minnesota (R).
Are we serious? We have people who are losing their paychecks, social services that have been halted, federal agencies who have had to stop what they are doing...just because you want to make a point?
Never before in my life do I remember our elected officials acting in such an utterly childish and irresponsible manner. And these people are running this country. I just have no words.